2018 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline and Scout revealed ahead of Geneva

2017 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 2017 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 2017 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline 2017 Skoda Kodiaq Sportline

Skoda has taken the wraps off the Sportline and Scout variants of its Kodiaq SUV, which will follow the local launch of the SUV's initial version in the third quarter of this year.

The global debut of the Kodiaq Sportline and Scout is scheduled for March 7 at the Geneva motor show.

Skoda Australia general manager of corporate communications Paul Pottinger has revealed the Sportline variant will be available in Australia, whilst the Scout remains under consideration.

“We’re interested in all variants of the Kodiaq, bearing in mind in Australia we’ll be sticking to all-wheel drive and seven seaters,” he said.

Set for a likely local debut in 2018, the Sportline offers a host of sporty visual-only enhancements including black roof rails, side window trims, and wing mirror housings, as well as body-coloured side trims and radiator grille, plus tinted rear and second-seat side windows.

Exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels are standard, with 20-inch versions on the options list for the Sportline variant, which also bears a front wing badge to signify its spec.

The Sportline's interior boasts a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear lever, aluminium pedals, Alcantara seats with electronic adjustment and memory function for the driver, plus Alcantara door inserts with silver stitching, folding side mirrors, ten-colour LED ambient lighting, as well as a multi-function display which shows turbo pressure, oil and coolant temperatures, current engine output and G-force levels.

The standard driving mode select also offers drivers the choice of eco, comfort, normal, snow, sport and individual modes which can be teamed with the optional adaptive dynamic chassis control that allows dampers to be set to either comfort, normal or sport.

Alternatively, the Scout adds more rugged looks to the Kodiaq, including black side-body trims, 19-inch alloy wheels with silver-finished front and rear diffusers.

2017 Skoda Kodiaq Scout 2017 Skoda Kodiaq Scout

Whilst the tinted rear and second-row side windows are shared with the Sportline, the Scout changes the trim colour on the radiator grille, side windows, roof rails and wing mirrors from black to silver.

In line with its rugged visual upgrade, the Kodiaq's off-road abilities are enhanced by the addition of an electronic differential lock, hill-hold and hill-descent control, underbody and engine protection, and overall 194mm ground clearance.

The features list also expands to 'Driving Mode Selection', ambient LED interior lighting, steel pedals, Alcantara seats and trim, and front and rear park assist.

The initial Kodiaq range in Australia will comprise one powertrain, a 2.0-litre petrol-powered 132TSI variant, before the likely arrival of a 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version later in the year.

Both powertrains are expected to be part of the Sportline and Scout range when they are eventually offered in Australia.

Does the Skoda Kodiaq have a chance of performing well in the already crowded SUV segment? Tell us what you think in the comments below.

DS Sports Car Concept Could Get A Production Future Kirby Garlitos

Filed under:

• Citroen
• Citroen DS
• sports cars
• coupe
• future cars

Posted on 01.27.2017 16:00 by Kirby Garlitos +  

With so many concept debuts happening in any given year in the automotive world, it’s hard to keep track of all these prototypes. There are a few though that stick in our heads, either because of their dramatic good looks or their impressive performance credentials. Then there are those that hit us squarely on both spots and these are the concepts that we actually look forward to seeing production guise. The DS E-Tense Concept from the 2016 Geneva Motor Show counts as one of these concepts and according to Autocar, we might end up seeing a production version of the electric supercar a lot sooner than we had hoped for.

Apparently, DS, the luxury division of the PSA Group that was born out of French automaker Citroen has filed a trademark for the E-Tense name, a sign that the automaker has bigger plans for the concept that stole the show in Geneva last year. Granted, filing a trademark doesn’t automatically mean that the name in question will be used in production form. We’ve seen automakers file trademarks in the past before, only to not do anything with them.

But there are reasons to believe that DS has plans to use the E-Tense name in the future. For one, PSA boss Carlos Tavares has made his opinions clear of a performance car acting as a halo model for DS. The man thinks that there’s enormous potential for the car if it does end up going to production. The French auto giant even took the E-Tense Concept out on the streets of Paris shortly after its debut in Geneva to gauge public reaction for the car. Then there’s the fact that despite being labeled as a concept, DS actually built the model to production car standards, allowing it to be used as technology demonstrator to showcase all of its wares in real-world settings.

Read the tea leaves and there is cause to be optimistic about the E-Tense Concept’s chance of making it to production. Just don’t expect it to happen right away because the priority within the DS brand is to introduce an SUV to the market by 2018. That’s the more pressing concern at the moment. Once the SUV is out though, look for the buzz surrounding the E-Tense Concept to pick up once again.

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Source: Autocar

Good move by DS, even if the results are unlikely to show yet

I can’t speak for the preferences of other people, but I can tell you that I’m a big fan of the DS E-Tense Concept when it was unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. A 400-horsepower electric sports car with the looks that could back up its capabilities would be a great flagship model for a DS luxury brand that’s still trying to find stability after having just recently been turned into its own sub-brand.

That’s one of the biggest reasons why I think a production version of the E-Tense Concept could work, but it’s far from the only reason if you consider how the industry itself is evolving to the point that electric performance __cars are becoming more and more popular these days.

There’s a whole new segment that’s opening up here and PSA and DS would be smart to capitalize on it, especially when a lot of the E-Tense’s perceived rivals are also in similar – maybe a little bit more advanced – stages of development. We all know that a big part of success in the industry can be attributed to taking advantage of opportunities that present itself to automakers. Seize these opportunities and you put yourself in an advantageous position to attract success for your model.

I think that’s what DS has in front of it and it’s playing its cards right by looking at the potential of the E-Tense Concept as a production performance car and being proactive in considering the need of a halo car for the new brand. Whether this trademark filing amounts to anything is a question that will only be answered over time. But the signs point to it happening at some point in the future and that’s a good thing for DS as it tries to establish an identity for itself.

Gallery DS E-Tense Concept

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Read our full review on the DS E-Tense Concept here.

Nerf Nitro Is The Car Blaster Toy We Never Knew We Wanted Kirby Garlitos

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Filed under:

• car gift ideas

Posted on 01.28.2017 06:00 by Kirby Garlitos +  

We all know that Nerf has created some pretty awesome toys in the past. The super soaker guns, in particular, evoke fond memories from people who grew up with them. But the latest produce to come out of the Hasbro-owned company just might be the best one it’s invented yet. It’s called the Nerf Nitro and it uses the traditional toy guns we’ve come to enjoy from Nerf and combines it with cars. Foam cars, sure, but __cars nevertheless.

The whole gist of the Nerf Nitro is that these foam __cars can be fired from the guns and into an obstacle course that’s also included in the whole thing. Why hasn’t anybody thought of this before?

Players, be it young or old, can set up obstacle courses using plastic tires, barrels, and boxes, some of which come with the sets. From there, they can load up their guns, pull the trigger, and watch as the foam cars blast off into the obstacle course with little regard for their own safeties. It’s the combination of Hot Wheels and Demolition Derby we didn’t know was possible in such an environment.

Even better, Hasbro is actually designing 48 unique car designs for the new toy, which means that we can get our fill of the different shapes and sizes they’re likely to come out in. Don’t expect any actual car look-alikes, but that’s neither here nor there. The Nerf Nitro looks a lot of fun to not only buy, but to open up and play with the rest of the family.

The product goes on sale later this year – around the summer time – with the price of the sets varying from $9.99 to $49.99. Whatever the cost, I’m sure it’s going to be worth all the fun of playing this new game from Nerf with the rest of the family.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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We’re never too old for cool toys

I’ve been guilty of getting a little too excited when certain toys of the automotive variety hit the shelves. It happened when Lego unveiled its Speed Champions line and judging from my own excitement upon seeing the Nerf Nitro, I’m going to making a trip down the local Toys R’ Us to get a piece of this toy when it hits the shelves.

The whole premise of the toy is ridiculously fun to imagine. From the launchers that look like ramps themselves to the foam cars and all the obstacle courses that can be built from the extra accessories of the game, the Nerf Nitro is the kind of toy that I think adults will enjoy as much as the kids, maybe even more.

I know that buying all the sets is going to cost a significant amount of money, but I don’t think getting everything is going to equate to getting the most out of the experience. It might even be best to limit the purchase to one or two of the seven sets – maybe just the 24-piece Motofury Rapid Rally and Duelfury Demoltion sets – and see what kind of fun could be had with those sets.

Sure, there’s a part of me that sees the ridiculousness and silliness of getting too excited for a toy. But I’m not going to be ashamed of getting excited over the Nerf Nitro, especially not when I spent years of my childhood trying to come up with silly stunts for my die-cast Matchbox cars. But now that the whole experience is being offered to me straight out of the box, you can be sure that there’s going to be a lot of childhood reliving that’s going to happen in my household.

Is this The Upcoming McLaren 720S? Robert Moore

Filed under:

• Mclaren
• Supercars / Exotic cars
• coupe
• future cars

Posted on 01.27.2017 11:00 by Robert Moore  

The newest member of the McLaren Super Series and replacement for the McLaren 650S is scheduled to debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. But, so far, McLaren has done pretty well about keeping the new model, which is codenamed internally as the P14, under wraps. Of course, that’s excepted by the teaser released earlier this month that showed off a bit of the car’s new rear wing, but outside of that and a few spy shots, there’s been very little word about the car. Now, a mysterious (and low-quality) photo of the new P14, or 720S as we’ll all come to know it, has made an appearance on Instagram. But, is this the real P14/720S, or is there more to this story that we just don’t know about?

Well, the photo was posted by Instagram user Woppum in the wee hours of the morning (for East Coast U.S. residents) and has been making rounds ever since. According to the poster, who has a strong fascination for __cars and 69.5-thousand followers, this is the P14/720S in Volcano Orange. The spoiler that was recently teased appears to be non-existent here or, at the very least, out of the camera’s view, but you can see hints of the legendary McLaren F1 and some of the P1. You can even see some 570S cues in there, but there’s also some new bodywork that separates it from the 650S as well – all signs that this is the next model and not just an upgrade or special edition of an existing model.

So far, it’s seen some 1,500 likes, but it’s also seen some mixed opinions. Outside of the general design, which some see as gorgeous while others say it’s not exactly the prettiest car they’ve seen, the fact that it’s surrounded by a bunch of older gentlemen under heavy lighting adds fuel to the fire that points toward this being the real deal. After all, McLaren is known for hosting its own private debuts for loyal customers long before it officially announces new models to the rest of the world.

Keep reading for the rest of the story

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Source: Woppum

A Few More Tidbits

Well, I’m pretty convinced that this low-quality picture is indeed the P14, especially after comparing it to spy shots that have circled the internet, but we all know that a car is more than its visual appeal. Back when the car’s spoiler was teased, we also found out that it will see be twice as aerodynamically efficient as the 650S that it replaces while also being subject to 50 percent more downforce. There’s also said to be a 15-percent gain in cooling efficiency thanks to the redesigned dihedral doors.

Finally, and thanks to McLaren’s new business plan that includes spending more than $1 billion on 15 new products by 2022, this baby is said to use new framework known as the Monocage II carbon-fiber tub and will make us of a new 4.0-liter powerplant. The latter of which is expected to be a V-8, and will use twin turbos to 720 PS (hence the 720S nomenclature.) That would raise to bar by 70 horsepower when compared to the 650S and by 44 ponies when compared to the hardcore 675LT. Torque output is expected to increase to as much as 550 pound-feet, which would be a 34 pound-foot increase over the 675LT as well. Meanwhile, the sprint 62 mph should take somewhere around 2.7 seconds, and top speed should come in above the 210 mph mark.

Specifications

	McLaren 650S	McLaren 675LT	McLaren 720S (est)
Engine	3.8-Liter V-8 Twin Turbo	3.8-Liter V-8 Twin Turbo	4.0-liter V-8 Twin Turbo
Power	641 HP @ 7,250 RPM	666 HP @ 7,100 RPM	710 HP
Torque	500 LB-FT @ 6,000 RPM	516 LB-FT @ 5,500-6,500 RPM	550 LB-FT
Transmission	Seven-Speed Dual Clutch	Seven-Speed SSG	Seven-Speed SSG
0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)	3.0 seconds	2.9 seconds	2.7 seconds
0-200 km/h (0-124 mph)	8.4 seconds	7.9 seconds	7.4 seconds
Top Speed	207 mph	205 mph	210+
Weight	3,148 Lbs	2,927 Lbs	2800 Lbs
Weight distribution (Front/Rear)	42.5%/57.5%	42.5%/57.5%	42.5%/57.5%

2018 McLaren 720S

Read our full review on the upcoming 2018 McLaren 720S here.

Ride Shotgun in the McLaren F1 During its Record-Breaking Run in 1998 Robert Moore

Filed under:

• Mclaren
• McLaren F1
• Supercars / Exotic cars
• coupe
• video

Posted on 01.28.2017 18:00 by Robert Moore  

The McLaren F1 is the legend of legends and is still considered by some to be the best car ever made. It was engineered by a team of hand-picked masterminds with a focus on reduced drag, increased downforce, and mind shattering performance all wrapped up into one sexy package that effectively raised the bar for all supercars that came after it. Not only was it pleasing to look at, but the design itself was pure genius as it accommodates enough downforce that there was no need for a big, bulky spoiler or wing on struts in the rear. With a curb weight of around 2,500 pounds and a 6.1-liter, BMW, V-12 that had 627 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, the McLaren F1 took a dominating toll on the record books in the early 1990s. And that folks, is what brings me to the topic at hand: the F1’s crazy top speed record of 240.1 mph.

To this day, the F1 is still the fastest naturally aspirated road car ever built and is still one of the most exclusive __cars in the world. It’s top speed record has since been beaten, but a recently revealed video of the F1s record-breaking speed run comes to remind us of just how amazingly fast the F1 was in a time where fast didn’t come quite as easy as it does today. In the video you’re about to watch, you’ll see Le Mans winner Andy Wallace make several passes at the Ehra-Lessien proving ground, eventually pushing the F1 to the very threshold of its limits. All told the F1 actually hit 391 km, which is 242.956 mph, but because records average out two runs in opposing directions, the record was officially set at 240.1 mph.

In the video, you’ll see the in-car footage of this crazy record being set and can even hear everything Wallace had to say during the process. Once the car creeps over the 220 mph mark, you’ll finally get to see just how scary it really was for Wallace as the car was quite literally ready to take flight and even the slightest wrong move would have ended in disaster. But, that didn’t happen, and now we have the glory of sharing that experience with the man who pushed the F1 and himself to the limit. Click play and enjoy!

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Think You Have the Ultimate Street Car? Well, Here's Your Chance to Prove It Robert Moore

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Filed under:

• industry news

Posted on 01.28.2017 12:00 by Robert Moore  

Over the past three years, Optima has hosted its Search for the Ultimate Street Car competition in conjunction with the Ultimate Street Car Association, and this year it kicks off on March 17th at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. But, don’t start detailing and prepping your street machine just yet – you need to hop over to USCA’s official web page to register for the event (in the source field below.) But, rest assured, you’ll be welcomed regardless of what you drive, even if it’s a modified 1978 Honda Civic or something much newer. That’s right, the competition is open to all years, makes, and models as long as your car is a street-legal performance machine, and sports a major OE manufacturer factory affixed production tag or plate. If you own a kit car or modern reproduction model, however, you’ll just have to sit this one out.

Back to the news at hand, each event scheduled for this year’s run will be split into five key segments: design and engineering, road rally, speed-stop, autocross, and road course. These segments will allow the judging panel to make an informed decision as to who owns the ultimate street machine in a balanced manner, with an emphasis on high-quality fit and finish, innovative and cutting edge ideas/parts, features that retain its ability to perform as a daily driver, and performance on the track. And, don’t think you can get by with trying to pass off a vehicle not suitable to be a daily driver here folks because the road rally event is designed to ensure that each vehicle meet that criteria with a road cruise that covers anywhere between 25 and 100 miles with or without stops

Meanwhile, the speed-stop segment will test your ability to accelerate and stop quickly, and the Autocross competition will time you as you attempt to negotiate tight turns, short straightaways, slow-speed maneuvers, and your ability to stop within a designated spot. Finally, the road course competition will time your car’s performance and your ability to perform on real road racing conditions with the lowest times receiving the highest score. Registration is open now, so get over there and register your whip before it’s too late.

Keep reading for more details

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Just a Little More Info

Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts the first event from March 17 to March 19, however, there are six other events that include:

• April 21-23 @ NOLA Motorsports Park
• June 2-4 @ National Corvette Museum Motorsports
• July 7-9 @ Pikes Peak International Raceway
• August 25-27 @ New Jersey Motorsports Park
• September 1-3 @ Auto Club Speedway
• October 7-9 @ Road America

As you can see, there’s a venue that is well within just about anybody’s reach over the next nine months, so start planning now and make your presence known.

2016 Winners

GTV Class

1969 Chevy Camaro owned by Jake Rozelle – Total score: 1431 points

GTS Class

2013 Nissan GT-R owned by Steve Kepler – Total score: 1450 points

GTL Class

2006 Chevy Corvette Z06 owned by Rich Willhoff – Total Score: 1462 points

GT Class

2013 Chevy Camaro owned by Bryan Johnson – Total Score: 1443 points

Note: This year, a new FTC class is being introduced that will allow __cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Honda Civic, Mazda Miata, and other sport compacts to compete as well, which should lead to some interesting competition. We’ve uploaded the PDF of the full rules provided by the USCA for your review below.

What Is Volvo Testing Here? Mark McNabb

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Filed under:

• Volvo
• Volvo XC90
• utility vehicle
• suv
• Spy Shots and Renderings

Posted on 01.27.2017 10:00 by Mark McNabb +  

Volvo seems to be up to something interesting. Spotted in the wilds of some urban parking lot is this mutant of an XC90 test mule. Hoisted above its rear cargo area with a one-off support system is a steel pedestal presumably holding extra weight. But that’s not the biggest change. No, this experimental vehicle has a lengthened wheelbase. Its rear axle has been pushed rearward, requiring Volvo engineers to cut a larger wheel well into the XC90’s body. This begs the question: what is Volvo testing here?

We’ve heard nothing of Volvo testing some new type of SUV or even pickup truck, but that’s exactly what our minds conjure up. One theory is Volvo is making a long wheelbase version of the XC90 for China. That easily explains the rearward axle placement on this tester, but what about the weights on top? Perhaps Volvo is planning to offer an armored version of its XC90. Rather than installing armor into a test mule, Volvo engineers simply constructed a massive weight to increase the XC90’s center of gravity. Volvo wouldn’t be the first automaker to offer an armored version of a production vehicle. Mercedes and Audi both offer factory armament up-fits.

Another possibility – and one what pickup truck fans might like – is an XC90-based mid-size pickup. Close examination of the high-mounted load put its exactly between the rear doors and ahead of the rear axle. That’s right here heavy loads should go in a pickup. The XC90’s standard wheelbase measures 117.5 inches, but this long-wheelbase version likely has another 10 inches atop that. A 126.5-inch wheelbase would put it directly in line with other mid-size pickups, including the Honda Ridgeline at 125.3 inches, the Nissan Frontier Crew Cab at 125.9 inches, the global T6 Ford Ranger at 127 inches, and the Chevy Colorado Crew Cab Short Box at 128.3 inches.

Will Volvo enter the mid-size truck segment? Keep reading for more speculation.

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Why It Matters

The mid-size pickup truck segment is certainly growing these days, but who would have suspected Volvo to get involved? Volvo does have a rather huge commercial truck division that spans the globe, but the consumer pickup market, especially in America, is a different beast. Major players like General Motors, Toyota, and even Nissan have all but stopped out the competition. But now with Ford planning to reintroduced the Ranger in 2019, Hyundai planning its unibody Santa Cruz, and Tesla toying with the idea of an all-electric pickup, the market has the potential of getting crowded. Add to that Honda’s unibody Ridgeline pickup that’s growing in popularity thanks to the introduction of its second generation.

Then there’s the Mercedes-Benz X-Class. Mercedes is coming to market with its luxury pickup for the 2018 model year and is expected to garner some hearty sales. The X-Class will have all the popular interior trimmings as any other luxury Mercedes, but offer a respectable payload and towing capacities. Customers of this truck will likely be Current Mercedes owners looking to hop on the pickup bandwagon or other luxury-level buyers who want the combination of class and capacity. Sadly, Mercedes is not willing to sell the X-Class inside the U.S.

Volvo might have simply been experimenting with the limitations of the XC90’s unibody chassis or testing some other components.

Perhaps it’s the X-Class that Volvo is going after. Volvo would only be the second true luxury brand entering the pickup market, though some could debate the GMC Canyon Denali plays here, too. Regardless, the GMC and Mercedes don’t directly compete since Mercedes isn’t brave enough to offer the X-Class stateside.

Issues could arise regarding the construction of Volvo’s pickup and its availability in the U.S. Should Volvo built the truck in Sweden, it would not be available here. President Trump is not likely going to repeal the Chicken Tax anytime soon. Volvo could, however, build the XC90-based pickup at its South Carolina assembly plant that’s set to open in late 2018.

Of course, all this is pure speculation and educated guessing. Volvo might have simply been experimenting with the limitations of the XC90’s unibody chassis or testing some other components. We won’t know until much later when other test mules begin showing up.

Until then, let us know what you think in the comments below.